Reachable Cabinet Device

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a device for making cabinet storage easier to access. The device is composed of a base, slideable parts, gyrate brackets, and shelf frames. This device allows shorter people to access cabinet storage that would otherwise be out of reach.

BACKGROUND

Many homes utilize cabinets as a means of storage. Cabinets allow peopleto store items on shelves with opening and closing doors. Cabinets areoften placed high along walls and may have deep storage areas. Thesehigh locations and deep storage areas often present difficulties forshorter people, such as children, who require assistance to reach itemsin hard-to-reach areas of the cabinets. It would be useful to have newand innovative way to reach items that may be on high cabinet shelves ordeep within cabinet storage systems.

SUMMARY

This invention relates to a device for making cabinet storage easier toaccess. The device is composed of a base, slideable parts, gyratebrackets, and shelf frames. This device allows shorter people to accesscabinet storage that would otherwise be out of reach.

These as well as other aspects, advantages, and alternatives, willbecome apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art by reading thefollowing detailed description, with reference where appropriate to theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a 3-dimensional view of an embodiment of the device in thefolded state.

FIG. 2 is a 3-dimensional view of an embodiment of the device in theopened state.

FIG. 3 is a side view of an embodiment of the device in the openedstate.

FIG. 4 is a side view of a base component of an embodiment of thedevice.

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of a base component of an embodiment of thedevice.

FIG. 6 is a side view of a slideable part component of an embodiment ofthe device.

FIG. 7 is an isometric view of a slideable part component of anembodiment of the device.

FIG. 8 is a side view of gyrate bracket components of an embodiment ofthe device.

FIG. 9 is a side view of a shelf frame component of an embodiment of thedevice.

FIG. 10 is an isometric view of a shelf component of an embodiment ofthe device.

FIG. 11 is a front view of a shelf frame with shelves of an embodimentof the device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the particular embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, the device 100 iscomposed of two bases 110, two slideable parts 120, six gyrate brackets130, two shelf frames 140, and three shelves 150.

Each base 110 is composed of metal, wood, or another strong material,depending on weight, strength, and cost considerations. Each base 110 ismounted on one side of a cabinet compartment where the device will beinstalled. The bases 110 are mounted on the cabinet compartment usingtraditional means, such as mounting brackets, bolts, screws, nails, orother appropriate means. The pair of bases 110 is intended to act as themain support for the device.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, each base 110 has two sets of rails 112, onenear the top and one near the bottom. Rails 112 connect slideable parts120. Rails 112 allow slideable parts 120 to slide in and out of thecabinet space via wheels, ball bearings, or other appropriate means.

Each base 110 has a slot 116 located below top rail 112. Slot 116 is ashallow, horizontal groove that provides a guide for the sliding actionof slideable part 120. Slot 116 prevents slideable part 120 from slidingall the way out of the cabinet.

Bases 110 may optionally have grooves 118. Grooves 118 are areas ofthinner material or no material at all that reduce the weight of bases110. Grooves 118 may be necessary depending on the material that bases110 are constructed from, in order to provide sufficient strengthwithout being too heavy.

Between the bottom of the cabinet and each base 110 are wedges 114.Wedges 114 are composed of plastic or other lightweight, strongmaterial. Wedges 114 are square shaped, or can be another shape if thespace requires it. Wedges 114 lift bases 110 off the bottom of thecabinet so that slideable parts 120 will clear any lip on the bottom ofthe cabinet. Wedges 114 are sized appropriately to provide enough spaceas is needed. Wedges 114 may optionally be placed between the sides ofbases 110 and the cabinet walls in order to provide enough space forslideable parts 120 to clear any lip on the sides of the cabinet.

Slideable parts 120 are composed of similar material to the rest of thedevice, such as wood or metal, depending on strength, weight, and costconsiderations. As illustrated in FIG. 7, each slideable part 120 hasrails 122. Rails 122 are sized to fit inside of rails 112. Rails 122allow slideable part 120 to slide partially out of the cabinet space.Guide 124 is a short protrusion intended to fit in slot 116. Guide 124prevents slideable part 120 from sliding all the way out of the cabinetspace.

Each slideable part 120 has at least 3 pins 126. Pins 126 are short,cylindrical protrusions intended to attach gyrate brackets 130. Pins 126are located near the bottom of slideable part 120, nearly evenlydistributed horizontally. One of the pins 126, typically the pin closestto the rear wall of the cabinet, is located higher than the others.

Each slideable part 120 has a groove 128. Groove 128 is a shallow curvedgroove intended to provide stability to the operation of gyrate brackets130. Groove 128 is located and shaped such that it forms an arc withcenter pin 126 as the anchor.

Each slideable part has a spring hole 127. Spring hole 127 is a smallhole which allows a spring to be mounted.

Slideable parts 120 may optionally have grooves 129. Grooves 129 areareas of thinner material or no material at all that reduce the weightof slideable parts 120. Grooves 129 may be necessary depending on thematerial that slideable parts 120 are constructed from, in order toprovide sufficient strength without being too heavy.

The particular embodiment described uses three gyrate brackets 130 foreach side, as shown in FIG. 8. Each gyrate bracket 130 is composed of astrong material such as metal. Each gyrate bracket 130 is shaped as along, thin rectangle with rounded corners. Each gyrate bracket 130 hastwo pinholes 138, located near either end of gyrate bracket 130.Pinholes 138 are sized and shaped such that pins 126 will fit inside.Center gyrate bracket 134 has an additional protrusion which containsspring hole 137. Center gyrate bracket 134 also has pin 139. Pin 139 isa protruding pin sized to fit in groove 128. Center gyrate bracket 134has a thinner top section with less material, which corresponds to asimilar bottom section of bottom gyrate bracket 136.

When assembled, top gyrate bracket 132 connects to slideable part 120via rear pin 126, as shown in FIG. 3. Top gyrate bracket 132 alsoconnects to shelf frame 140 via pin 142. Center gyrate bracket 134connects to slideable part 120 via center pin 126, while pin 139 fitsinto groove 128 to provide additional stability when opening and closingthe device. Center gyrate bracket 134 connects to spring 135 via springhole 137. The other end of spring 135 connects to slideable part 120 viaspring hole 127. Spring 135 assists in closing operations by providingadditional force from the tension in the spring 135. Center gyratebracket 134 also connects to shelf frame 140 via pin 142. Bottom gyratebracket 136 connects to slideable part 120 via bottom pin 126. Bottomgyrate bracket 136 also connects to shelf frame 140 via pin 142. Thoughnot pictured, a washer is typically placed between gyrate brackets 132,134, and 136, and slideable part 120 to prevent friction damage.

Shelf frames 140 are composed of similar material to the rest of thedevice, such as wood or metal, depending on strength, weight, and costconsiderations. As shown in FIG. 9, each shelf frame 140 has pins 142,grooves 144, and slideable wedges 148. Pins 142 are sized to fit gyratebrackets 130. Pins 142 are positioned such that when gyrate brackets 130are connected, each shelf frame 140 is in a level position. Slideablewedges 148 are composed of plastic or similar material that allowsliding with little friction. Slideable wedges 148 are attached to eachshelf frame 140 by glue or other appropriate means. Slideable wedges 148allow for easier opening and closing and prevent the shelf frames 140from contacting the surface of bases 110.

Shelf frames 140 may optionally have grooves 146. Grooves 146 are areasof thinner material or no material at all that reduce the weight ofshelf frames 140. Grooves 146 may be necessary depending on the materialthat shelf frames 140 are constructed from, in order to providesufficient strength without being too heavy.

Shelves 150 are composed of wood, plastic, metal, or other materialappropriate for shelves. As shown in FIG. 10, each shelf 150 has a basicshelf 152, and optionally side holders 156, and optionally mountingbrackets 154. Basic shelf 152 is a rectangular piece of material thatfunctions as a typical shelf. Optional side holders 156 are lips placedat the front and back of shelves 150 in order to prevent items fromfalling off during opening and closing operations. Optional side holders156 are attached to each basic shelf 152 by appropriate means such asbrackets, bolts, screws, nails, pins, or glue. Optional mountingbrackets 154 are attached to each basic shelf 152 using bolts, screws,or other typical means. Optional mounting brackets 154 are then placedinto grooves 144 at whatever location is appropriate to achieve thedesired shelf height. Other means of mounting the shelves 150 to theshelf frames 140 may also be used, such as bolts, screws, nails, pins,or glue.

While various aspects and embodiments have been disclosed herein, otheraspects and embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art.The various aspects and embodiments disclosed herein are for purposes ofillustration and are not intended to be limiting, with the true scopeand spirit being indicated by the following claims. Other embodimentsmay be utilized, and other changes may be made, without departing fromthe spirit or scope of the subject matter presented herein. It will bereadily understood that the aspects of the present disclosure, asgenerally described herein and illustrated in the figures, can bearranged, substituted, combined, separated, and designed in a widevariety of different configurations, all of which are contemplatedherein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A cabinet device comprising: a first base; asecond base; a first slideable support; a second slideable support; afirst shelf frame; a second shelf frame; a shelf; wherein the first andsecond slideable supports are connected to the first and second base bya first rail and a second rail such that the first and second slideablesupports can slide into and out of the first and second base; andwherein the first and second shelf frames are connected to the first andsecond slideable supports by a first gyrate bracket and a second gyratebracket such that the first and second shelf frames move to anaccessible position when the first and second gyrate brackets areactuated; and wherein the shelf resides between the first shelf frameand the second shelf frame.
 2. The cabinet device of claim 1 wherein thefirst and second shelf frames have weight reduction grooves.
 3. Thecabinet device of claim 1 wherein the first and second slideablesupports hayed weight reduction grooves.
 4. The cabinet device of claim1 wherein the first and second bases have weight reduction grooves. 5.The cabinet device of claim 1 wherein the shelf has a lip.